Review by Adam on January 3, 2003.

Christian Metal: The name has the ability to strike fear into the minds of many metalheads, but why? With bands like Six Feet Deep coming out, no one sees that they place their passion into their music as much as they do into their faith. “The Road Less Traveled” is this: pure unadulterated metal. It is the kind of stuff I miss after hearing overly technical band after overly technical band. Longing for something simpler but something that can still pack a wallop, I return to this CD time and time again.

The energetic execution with which the band plays the songs on “The Road Less Traveled” makes up for any lack of originality within the music itself. The album has an unidentifiable quality that just makes you want to keep listening. Throughout the CD, the style flows from grooving metal to hardcore to melodic, often in the confines of just one song. Where “The Road Less Traveled” truly shines is when it delves into the more melodic aspect of their sound. The vocals rarely break out of their hardcore shell, yet when they do, they are done in a manner which borderlines corniness but never really making it there.

The musicianship is nothing to rave about but that is one of the things that I like about this CD. It is very straightforward, to the point, and done well, which is something I tend to miss nowadays. The production suits the style they play very well, as the guitars are very crisp and heavy. The bass also manages to add melodic layers to certain songs instead of just simply playing along with them. The vocalist is just not another one of those screamers who yells wordlessly and that’s it. He plays guitar on all of the tracks and the bass on a couple others. The lyrics are also quite interesting. Not to worry - there is no excessive Jesus preaching to be found here!

Being a fairly old record, it is sad to see the small amount of attention it got when it is deserving of so much more. The way it bridges the hardcore into the emotional and melodic still sounds fresh to me every time I decide to pop it into my CD player. This is a rare gift to the metal world that I think all headbangers can appreciate. Fans of the technicality and brutality will not find much to feast on here. “The Road Less Traveled” is more for the metal fans that miss the excitement of simple metal done extremely well. If that is the kind of thing you are interested in, then I suggest you look no further than Six Feet Deep.

Bottom Line: Simple metal for the guy who just wants to headbang to some plain old well played metal.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 8
Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 7
Overall: 7.5

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Review by Faithless on March 2, 2020.

Coming from the ancient catacombs of Greece, Soulskinner performs a very solemn and somber death metal style on their 2014 release Crypts of Ancient Wisdom. Evolving from a 3-piece on their first record, Breeding the Grotesque, and a 4-piece band in their second one, Non-Stop Killing, Soulskinner seems to be like a good bottle of wine, as its ages tastes better. I have to say that I did not enjoy their first two records as I did with their third one, let´s find out why.

Crypts of Ancient Wisdom is a duo effort that really caught my attention because of its solemn and somber approach of death metal. This album reeks death all over from the cover art (designed by Mark Riddick), the lyrics and the sinister music performed by Bill (guitars, bass and songwriting) and Gothmog (vocals and lyrics). Breeding the Grotesque and Non-stop Killing were directed towards a gorier focus, average death metal performance and horrible drum programming (at least in their first record). I wanted to hear something more bleak and obscure. That's why I really enjoyed Crypts of Ancient Wisdom, this record gives you all the grimness and more.

The intro kicks with some acoustic guitars that are beautifully played but behind the beauty there is sadness and uncertainty, a metaphor of life disguised in ominous strains. 'The Captive Trojan Maiden' hits you with a straightforward Hellenic death metal style. No references to U.S.A and Sweden death metal, no blends or mixes here or even references to big death metal bands. The music is moody and atmospheric, it drinks from genres like doom and old school death metal, but not specific bands come to my head to compare with. I think Soulskinner has developed their own sound here. For instance, 'Life a Bane', 'Our Greatest Curse' and 'Deadland Part 2' are testimonies of a unique style that crushes your soul as you listen the solemnity of each song.

Lyrics are very mysterious and are based or adapted on writings of classical Greek poets and philosophers like Euripides, Sophocles, Agathias and Sappho. The lyrics are reflections of war, life and death, fitting perfectly with the concept of Crypts of Ancient Wisdom. For example, “The thin edge between life and death, colder by the hour, more dead with every breath” is a philosophical passage in the song 'Our Greatest Curse' that depicts what the lyrics are about. The fact that Soulskinner evolved from gory topics to these more thorough lyrics is a plus to the album and differentiate them from other bands.

There are many highlights in this record, for example, 'Deadland Part 1', 'Deadland Part 2', 'Our Greatest Curse' and 'Why Shrink From Death' are relentless songs that balance different moods and atmospheres. From fast tremolo picking guitars to melodic passages and crushing ambiences. I would say and I don't want to sound pretentious here; that Soulskinner has this Hellenic death metal sound that makes them different to other bands in the genre. Plus, their lyrical concept is also a very regional approach that refreshes the genre from clichés and repetitive acts. I´m looking forward to listening to their latest album called Descent to Abaddon to see if they continue in this gloomy fashion.

Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Review by Faithless on March 2, 2020.

Coming from the ancient catacombs of Greece, Soulskinner performs a very solemn and somber death metal style on their 2014 release Crypts of Ancient Wisdom. Evolving from a 3-piece on their first record, Breeding the Grotesque, and a 4-piece band in their second one, Non-Stop Killing, Soulskinner seems to be like a good bottle of wine, as its ages tastes better. I have to say that I did not enjoy their first two records as I did with their third one, let´s find out why.

Crypts of Ancient Wisdom is a duo effort that really caught my attention because of its solemn and somber approach of death metal. This album reeks death all over from the cover art (designed by Mark Riddick), the lyrics and the sinister music performed by Bill (guitars, bass and songwriting) and Gothmog (vocals and lyrics). Breeding the Grotesque and Non-stop Killing were directed towards a gorier focus, average death metal performance and horrible drum programming (at least in their first record). I wanted to hear something more bleak and obscure. That's why I really enjoyed Crypts of Ancient Wisdom, this record gives you all the grimness and more.

The intro kicks with some acoustic guitars that are beautifully played but behind the beauty there is sadness and uncertainty, a metaphor of life disguised in ominous strains. 'The Captive Trojan Maiden' hits you with a straightforward Hellenic death metal style. No references to U.S.A and Sweden death metal, no blends or mixes here or even references to big death metal bands. The music is moody and atmospheric, it drinks from genres like doom and old school death metal, but not specific bands come to my head to compare with. I think Soulskinner has developed their own sound here. For instance, 'Life a Bane', 'Our Greatest Curse' and 'Deadland Part 2' are testimonies of a unique style that crushes your soul as you listen the solemnity of each song.

Lyrics are very mysterious and are based or adapted on writings of classical Greek poets and philosophers like Euripides, Sophocles, Agathias and Sappho. The lyrics are reflections of war, life and death, fitting perfectly with the concept of Crypts of Ancient Wisdom. For example, “The thin edge between life and death, colder by the hour, more dead with every breath” is a philosophical passage in the song 'Our Greatest Curse' that depicts what the lyrics are about. The fact that Soulskinner evolved from gory topics to these more thorough lyrics is a plus to the album and differentiate them from other bands.

There are many highlights in this record, for example, 'Deadland Part 1', 'Deadland Part 2', 'Our Greatest Curse' and 'Why Shrink From Death' are relentless songs that balance different moods and atmospheres. From fast tremolo picking guitars to melodic passages and crushing ambiences. I would say and I don't want to sound pretentious here; that Soulskinner has this Hellenic death metal sound that makes them different to other bands in the genre. Plus, their lyrical concept is also a very regional approach that refreshes the genre from clichés and repetitive acts. I´m looking forward to listening to their latest album called Descent to Abaddon to see if they continue in this gloomy fashion.

Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Review by Faithless on March 2, 2020.

Coming from the ancient catacombs of Greece, Soulskinner performs a very solemn and somber death metal style on their 2014 release Crypts of Ancient Wisdom. Evolving from a 3-piece on their first record, Breeding the Grotesque, and a 4-piece band in their second one, Non-Stop Killing, Soulskinner seems to be like a good bottle of wine, as its ages tastes better. I have to say that I did not enjoy their first two records as I did with their third one, let´s find out why.

Crypts of Ancient Wisdom is a duo effort that really caught my attention because of its solemn and somber approach of death metal. This album reeks death all over from the cover art (designed by Mark Riddick), the lyrics and the sinister music performed by Bill (guitars, bass and songwriting) and Gothmog (vocals and lyrics). Breeding the Grotesque and Non-stop Killing were directed towards a gorier focus, average death metal performance and horrible drum programming (at least in their first record). I wanted to hear something more bleak and obscure. That's why I really enjoyed Crypts of Ancient Wisdom, this record gives you all the grimness and more.

The intro kicks with some acoustic guitars that are beautifully played but behind the beauty there is sadness and uncertainty, a metaphor of life disguised in ominous strains. 'The Captive Trojan Maiden' hits you with a straightforward Hellenic death metal style. No references to U.S.A and Sweden death metal, no blends or mixes here or even references to big death metal bands. The music is moody and atmospheric, it drinks from genres like doom and old school death metal, but not specific bands come to my head to compare with. I think Soulskinner has developed their own sound here. For instance, 'Life a Bane', 'Our Greatest Curse' and 'Deadland Part 2' are testimonies of a unique style that crushes your soul as you listen the solemnity of each song.

Lyrics are very mysterious and are based or adapted on writings of classical Greek poets and philosophers like Euripides, Sophocles, Agathias and Sappho. The lyrics are reflections of war, life and death, fitting perfectly with the concept of Crypts of Ancient Wisdom. For example, “The thin edge between life and death, colder by the hour, more dead with every breath” is a philosophical passage in the song 'Our Greatest Curse' that depicts what the lyrics are about. The fact that Soulskinner evolved from gory topics to these more thorough lyrics is a plus to the album and differentiate them from other bands.

There are many highlights in this record, for example, 'Deadland Part 1', 'Deadland Part 2', 'Our Greatest Curse' and 'Why Shrink From Death' are relentless songs that balance different moods and atmospheres. From fast tremolo picking guitars to melodic passages and crushing ambiences. I would say and I don't want to sound pretentious here; that Soulskinner has this Hellenic death metal sound that makes them different to other bands in the genre. Plus, their lyrical concept is also a very regional approach that refreshes the genre from clichés and repetitive acts. I´m looking forward to listening to their latest album called Descent to Abaddon to see if they continue in this gloomy fashion.

Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Review by Faithless on March 2, 2020.

Coming from the ancient catacombs of Greece, Soulskinner performs a very solemn and somber death metal style on their 2014 release Crypts of Ancient Wisdom. Evolving from a 3-piece on their first record, Breeding the Grotesque, and a 4-piece band in their second one, Non-Stop Killing, Soulskinner seems to be like a good bottle of wine, as its ages tastes better. I have to say that I did not enjoy their first two records as I did with their third one, let´s find out why.

Crypts of Ancient Wisdom is a duo effort that really caught my attention because of its solemn and somber approach of death metal. This album reeks death all over from the cover art (designed by Mark Riddick), the lyrics and the sinister music performed by Bill (guitars, bass and songwriting) and Gothmog (vocals and lyrics). Breeding the Grotesque and Non-stop Killing were directed towards a gorier focus, average death metal performance and horrible drum programming (at least in their first record). I wanted to hear something more bleak and obscure. That's why I really enjoyed Crypts of Ancient Wisdom, this record gives you all the grimness and more.

The intro kicks with some acoustic guitars that are beautifully played but behind the beauty there is sadness and uncertainty, a metaphor of life disguised in ominous strains. 'The Captive Trojan Maiden' hits you with a straightforward Hellenic death metal style. No references to U.S.A and Sweden death metal, no blends or mixes here or even references to big death metal bands. The music is moody and atmospheric, it drinks from genres like doom and old school death metal, but not specific bands come to my head to compare with. I think Soulskinner has developed their own sound here. For instance, 'Life a Bane', 'Our Greatest Curse' and 'Deadland Part 2' are testimonies of a unique style that crushes your soul as you listen the solemnity of each song.

Lyrics are very mysterious and are based or adapted on writings of classical Greek poets and philosophers like Euripides, Sophocles, Agathias and Sappho. The lyrics are reflections of war, life and death, fitting perfectly with the concept of Crypts of Ancient Wisdom. For example, “The thin edge between life and death, colder by the hour, more dead with every breath” is a philosophical passage in the song 'Our Greatest Curse' that depicts what the lyrics are about. The fact that Soulskinner evolved from gory topics to these more thorough lyrics is a plus to the album and differentiate them from other bands.

There are many highlights in this record, for example, 'Deadland Part 1', 'Deadland Part 2', 'Our Greatest Curse' and 'Why Shrink From Death' are relentless songs that balance different moods and atmospheres. From fast tremolo picking guitars to melodic passages and crushing ambiences. I would say and I don't want to sound pretentious here; that Soulskinner has this Hellenic death metal sound that makes them different to other bands in the genre. Plus, their lyrical concept is also a very regional approach that refreshes the genre from clichés and repetitive acts. I´m looking forward to listening to their latest album called Descent to Abaddon to see if they continue in this gloomy fashion.

Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Review by Faithless on March 2, 2020.

Coming from the ancient catacombs of Greece, Soulskinner performs a very solemn and somber death metal style on their 2014 release Crypts of Ancient Wisdom. Evolving from a 3-piece on their first record, Breeding the Grotesque, and a 4-piece band in their second one, Non-Stop Killing, Soulskinner seems to be like a good bottle of wine, as its ages tastes better. I have to say that I did not enjoy their first two records as I did with their third one, let´s find out why.

Crypts of Ancient Wisdom is a duo effort that really caught my attention because of its solemn and somber approach of death metal. This album reeks death all over from the cover art (designed by Mark Riddick), the lyrics and the sinister music performed by Bill (guitars, bass and songwriting) and Gothmog (vocals and lyrics). Breeding the Grotesque and Non-stop Killing were directed towards a gorier focus, average death metal performance and horrible drum programming (at least in their first record). I wanted to hear something more bleak and obscure. That's why I really enjoyed Crypts of Ancient Wisdom, this record gives you all the grimness and more.

The intro kicks with some acoustic guitars that are beautifully played but behind the beauty there is sadness and uncertainty, a metaphor of life disguised in ominous strains. 'The Captive Trojan Maiden' hits you with a straightforward Hellenic death metal style. No references to U.S.A and Sweden death metal, no blends or mixes here or even references to big death metal bands. The music is moody and atmospheric, it drinks from genres like doom and old school death metal, but not specific bands come to my head to compare with. I think Soulskinner has developed their own sound here. For instance, 'Life a Bane', 'Our Greatest Curse' and 'Deadland Part 2' are testimonies of a unique style that crushes your soul as you listen the solemnity of each song.

Lyrics are very mysterious and are based or adapted on writings of classical Greek poets and philosophers like Euripides, Sophocles, Agathias and Sappho. The lyrics are reflections of war, life and death, fitting perfectly with the concept of Crypts of Ancient Wisdom. For example, “The thin edge between life and death, colder by the hour, more dead with every breath” is a philosophical passage in the song 'Our Greatest Curse' that depicts what the lyrics are about. The fact that Soulskinner evolved from gory topics to these more thorough lyrics is a plus to the album and differentiate them from other bands.

There are many highlights in this record, for example, 'Deadland Part 1', 'Deadland Part 2', 'Our Greatest Curse' and 'Why Shrink From Death' are relentless songs that balance different moods and atmospheres. From fast tremolo picking guitars to melodic passages and crushing ambiences. I would say and I don't want to sound pretentious here; that Soulskinner has this Hellenic death metal sound that makes them different to other bands in the genre. Plus, their lyrical concept is also a very regional approach that refreshes the genre from clichés and repetitive acts. I´m looking forward to listening to their latest album called Descent to Abaddon to see if they continue in this gloomy fashion.

Rating: 8.8 out of 10